Director of Industries & Commerce, K.Hokishe Assumi with YouthNet team and others during the launch of Made in Nagaland e-commerce site on June 29. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | June 29
Two years ago on June 28, ‘Made in Nagaland’ Center near Nagaland Civil Secretariat Kohima was formally inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio, also marking the official closing of ‘Impact 5000 by 18’ Campaign, a program initiated by YouthNet. The Center that houses several products and works of 140 entrepreneurs, 70% of whom are women, today launched its e-commerce site (www.madeinnagalandcenter.in), also marking completion of two years of the Center.
“For us, it’s a celebration, we have completed two years and we are happy that the center has done well, but it’s not enough,” Hekani Jakhalu Kense, Founder of YouthNet said on the launching of the website. The e-commerce site of Made in Nagaland Center was formally launched by K Hokishe Assumi, Director of Industries and Commerce at the YouthNet main office in Billy Graham Road, Kohima on Monday afternoon.
Much more potential for it to grow
Asserting that “there is so much more potential for it to grow because the energy of young people is amazing in Nagaland,” Hekani Jakhalu Kense affirmed that, “we want to make sure that we are leveraging that— our products, our talents, our brands.” “The larger objective is not just branding our brand but made in Nagaland concept,” she stated.
COVID-19 has brought in opportunities
Addressing the launch of the website, K Hokishe Assumi, Director of Industries and Commerce congratulated YouthNet on completing an important milestone and said, “Being young, we have lots of potentials.” He noted that everyone is afraid of COVID-19, but at the same time, said that it has brought in opportunities. “As a department, our scope is limited to certain parameters but within that, whatever we can do to assist, we are there to support you,” he added.
Pointing to the launch of the website, he also asserted that ‘a brand that says ‘Nagaland’ is going to be very important”. “Now the stage has come for production and export”, he said while maintaining that “as a department along with YouthNet, together we can do many good things.”
Non-payment of loans an issue
In the meantime, on procurement of loans from the banks, he pointed out that non-payment of loans has been an issue, but maintained that “we have very enterprising youngsters and they just need a little push” to do well. He felt that it is high time we come together and called upon young people to “tell us if we are wrong, where the government has failed or lack.” “Everyone has weaknesses but that should not be the excuse but we must come together and overcome that,” he said.
He also informed that this year there are 600 seats for the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) wherein there will be no interview or district task force set up in view of the pandemic. “Selection will be based on the assessment of the one paged query in the form,” he divulged.
One-stop center
In her introduction, Nuneseno Chase, Head of Training and Development, Nagaland Career and Development Center, YouthNet, noted that the Made in Nagaland Center-initiative of YouthNet, is an establishment with an objective to provide exposure and a centralized platform for products and services from Nagaland. Stating that many Nagas are engaged in the production of a variety of local handicrafts, handlooms and have also started production of locally packaged agro-products and processed food for commercial purposes, the end products, she said, however do not have a ready and thriving market for which most entrepreneurs have difficulty selling their products.
With entrepreneurs also scattered across the state and do not have a single organized umbrella organization to facilitate marketing, sales, export, etc, Made in Nagaland Center has been created as a one-stop center to not only market, brand, and showcase local.
